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From Earthy to Citrus: Developing Your Cannabis Aroma Vocabulary

Cannabis connoisseurs know that all weed doesn’t smell alike. From earthy and floral to fruity and gassy and everything in between. Growers from all over have created thousands of scent combinations with every new strain. Understanding aroma is a start to knowing which cannabis flavours come from a strain. Here’s some cannabis aroma vocabulary to get you a head start on developing your sense of smell.

Earthy

Most weed strains have an earthy aroma undertone, but some strains showcase the scent more than others. The right balance will create a musky sensation that makes you feel like the outdoors surrounds you. Earthy aromas are typically from strains with humulene and myrcene terpenes.

Some of our favourite earthy-scented strains are:

Woody

For a more defined smell out the outdoors, imagine yourself in dense woodlands. Woody is a common way to describe strains that smell like sniffing the bark of a tree. Much of this scent is attributed to the caryophyllene terpene.

Find some of the best woody scents from these strains:

Pine

One of the most easily recognized tree scents comes from pine trees. These trees produce lots of pinene (https://www.amsterdamgenetics.com/terpenes-in-cannabis-pinene/), which is also quite common in cannabis. As the name suggests, this aroma engulfs you with a fresh, piney scent.

Heavy pine notes typically signal an Indica-dominant strain. Here are a few of our favourites:

Herbal

Open your kitchen cupboard and inhale the bouquet of herbs from your seasonings. Multiple terpenes cause a similar herbal aroma, such as strains with caryophyllene and linalool. Herbal scents cover a range of peppery to cloves to oregano to cinnamon.

Herbal is handy cannabis aroma vocabulary to define the following strains:

Spicy

Similar to how seasoning adds an extra ‘oomph’ to your food, spicy is a way to describe weed strains that have an extra kick! When you think spicy, think about a zesty, fiery scent to wake up your senses—like smelling pepper or cajun.

Here are a few strains to plant if you’re seeking a scent with an extra bite:

Sweet

The sweet smell of some cannabis strains gives us an uplifting sensation with their aroma alone. There are different ways of describing the sweet scent of weed–fruity sweet, sugary sweet, floral sweet, etc.

Sweeten the deal with your next grow with these seeds:

Sour

Pucker up because sour strains give you a tangy sensation. The same way smelling a lemon makes your nose twinge before tasting it is the same way you’ll feel smelling these strains—just not as overbearing. With cannabis, it’s a more refreshing, clean feel.

If you’re looking for which cannabis flavours deliver this unique scent, try these:

Fruity

Did you know that terpenes also exist in fruits? Fruit strains (https://www.amsterdamgenetics.com/the-best-cannabis-fruit-strains/) are always popular because they taste exactly like your favourite fruits! Cannabis and fruits share the same terpenes responsible for delivering the same aroma, like myrcene and humulene. The entourage effect (https://www.amsterdamgenetics.com/the-entourage-effect-how-cannabis-compounds-interact/) of these terpenes creates a full spectrum of fruit scents—and tastes just as good.

Some of our popular fruity scent strains are

Citrus

While citrus strains typically fall under the fruit category. However, this flavour is so recognizable that it’s worthy of a class on its own! Limonene (https://www.amsterdamgenetics.com/terpenes-in-cannabis-limonene/) is a common terpene that renders a citrusy aroma. Various citrus scents include lemon, orange, and lime.

Notable strains with a loud citrus aroma include:

Floral

The flowering stage is when floral scent weed strains start to smell like a big bouquet of flowers just blossomed. That fresh floral scent comes from the linalool terpene. Similar scents to compare with your plant’s aroma are that of a lavender field or a dozen roses. The flowery smell makes them a good choice for growing outdoors (https://www.amsterdamgenetics.com/growing-cannabis-outdoor/).

These strains are great examples of the floral scent:

Dairy/Cheese

Have you tried any ‘cake’ or ‘cookie’ family strains? One thing they all have in common is having a dairy aroma. It’s like smelling sweet baked goods fresh out of the oven. Alternatively, some strains have a cheesy aroma.

Add dairy to your cannabis aroma vocabulary and inhale the tasty scents of these strains:

Chocolate

You’ll be surprised to see that the unique compound blends from the entourage effect can produce smells like chocolate. These strains will make you even hungrier because it’s like taking a whiff of a tasty chocolate bar.

If you’ve got a taste for cacao-inspired strains, check out these seeds:

Diesel/Fuel

Diesel and fuel are the sharper, punchier aromas for cannabis. These strains exhibit pungent scents that are unmistakable. Gassy is another term to describe this scent.

Here are some strains to check out for aromas that will fuel you up:

Cannabis taste is directly related to its aroma. It makes it easy to determine which cannabis flavours to expect based on its scents. Keep this cannabis aroma vocabulary list handy when browsing our premium cannabis seeds.

The Influence of Terpenes and Cannabinoids on Your Cannabis Experience

We all enjoy cannabis for different reasons, and its effects on our bodies differ for everyone. The effects of cannabis terpenes and cannabinoids play major roles in our consumption experience. They are both chemical compounds in the cannabis plant that directly interact with properties in our bodies that produce unique highs, aromas, and flavours.

We’ll explore what terpenes and cannabinoids are used for and how they influence your high.

Cannabis Terpenes

The scent and taste of your plant are the physiological effects of cannabis terpenes. However, plants also use these chemical properties for repealing or attracting insects and more. More than 20,000 terpenes exist for all plants, although cannabis plants contain just a fraction of these. We use a handful of the most common terpenes to help define a strain by its smell and taste.

The most common cannabis terpenes you should know are:

Each of these terpenes gives strains their unique properties. Plants that give off a floral lavender smell like the Amnesia Haze strain have lots of linalool terpenes, and the pine aroma from Magic OG Kush is the result of a pinene terpene presence.

In addition to the smell, terpenes have distinct flavours that help tell them apart. Cannabis strains with a citrus flavour profile like the Tangerine G13 have large amounts of limonene. The earthy taste of the buds produced from our Fatkid’s Cake seeds shows high amounts of myrcene.

Understanding Cannabinoids

How does your favourite weed strain make you feel? Do you prefer sativa like the White Choco Haze that gives a serendipitous euphoria and creativity? Or perhaps an indica-dominant like the Dutch Duchess strain that helps you relax after a long day. Maybe even someone who appreciates cannabis for its medical benefits, like easing pain and inflammation.

Each of these effects—and more—are the result of cannabinoids. Like Terpenes, cannabinoids are another chemical compound in the plant produced as the plant’s defense mechanism against insects, bacteria, and UV ray protection.

The most common cannabinoids associated with cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). When we consume these cannabinoids, they cause many of the psychoactive effects we consider the high. But how does it work?

Did you know that humans already have natural cannabinoids in our system? Cannabinoids in plants are identified as phytocannabinoids, and those found in humans are called endocannabinoids. These endocannabinoids work in our Central Nervous System to regulate and maintain homeostasis. Receptors in this system affect our mood, appetite, stress, memory, and more to keep our bodies balanced.

When you consume cannabis, cannabinoids produced in the plant interact with our own endocannabinoid system to stimulate our receptors. It’s why marijuana use is excellent for reducing stress, making us happy, and also hungry.

Terpenes and Cannabinoids Create the Entourage Effect

With 200+ terpenes and 100+ cannabinoids, each strain genetic features a unique combination of them. Together, it’s what makes each strain different and have its own effects on you.

Consuming cannabis creates the entourage effect—when all a plant’s terpenes and cannabinoids interact with the chemicals in our bodies to create a multi-sensory experience.

Thanks to the effects of cannabis terpenes, you get the smell and flavour. And the cannabinoids that alter the high you’ll have. Terpenes and cannabinoids can also affect each other. For example, the herbal scent and taste of myrcene also have properties that allow your body to absorb more cannabinoids. It’s why strains like AK-OG Kush that have a lot of myrcene make you feel higher—also, eating mangoes that contain lots of myrcene! Alternatively, strains with more CBD cannabinoids help reduce your high feeling since it depresses the effects of THC.

Mastering the art of cannabis tasting will enhance your experience with weed. Mindful consumption will help you appreciate the bouquet of aromas, the rich flavours, and discover new highs from each grow.

How You Can Change Its Effects

If you thought the genetic properties were enough to differentiate cannabis, think again! As growers, we have a significant impact on our plants and how they will affect us when consuming them. From our grow techniques to how we consume them, you can help shape any plant into your perfect strain.

Terpenes are found in your plant’s trichomes—the sticky, crystal-like properties located on your buds. You can increase the effects of cannabis terpenes by maximizing the trichomes of your grow. Steps to improve the taste and smell of your weed happen before or after harvest. For example, you can increase terpene production by adjusting temperatures or optimizing your cure time.

There are different ways to consume cannabis—smoking, digesting, topicals, etc. Each delivers the cannabinoid effects differently. Smoking cannabis with rolling papers delivers a faster high effect compared to eating edibles since it must be digested first before entering your system. Also, CBD topicals that don’t give any high effect but are used for their therapeutic benefits.

Cannabis terpenes and cannabinoids are two essential parts of a marijuana plant that give it the physical and psychoactive properties. At Amsterdam Genetics, we provide details of odour and taste for a strain’s terpene profile. Also, a percentage breakdown of a strain’s cannabinoids to determine the kind of high it delivers. Browse our premium cannabis seeds for more information.

Have A Look At Our Best Selling Strains

Developing A Nose For Cannabis: Understanding Aroma Profiles

It takes a successful grow and harvest to achieve the maximum aroma potency from your strain based on its genetics. However, now, it’s time for you to do your part to develop your sense of smell to appreciate the vast cannabis aroma profiles. Awareness of its smell helps with categorizing different strains, providing details of its effect, determining its freshness, and more.

Let’s explore how you can use cannabis aromas to improve your consumption experience!

Indica vs. Sativa Aromas

Knowing what scents to look for can help significantly in identifying them in your strains. Indica and sativa strains differ in more than just the kind of high they give you—they also give off different aromas. This is due to the chemical properties called terpenes, which are responsible for each strain’s unique aromas (and taste). All cannabis strains have terpenes, with approximately 200 different kinds discovered so far in the plants.

Common terpenes that you can find in Indica-dominant strains are myrcene, humulene, and caryophyllene. These strains are best characterized by heavier scents of earthy, woody, musk, and nature tones. The skunky bouquet of spicy aromas from the Blue Magic strain and the potent earthy profile in the AK-OG Kush are good examples that both deliver the intense body high noted in indica strains.

For the uplifting highs associated with sativa strains, the aromas you should be looking for are a more light, refreshing scent. Think fruity, sweet, and floral tones for the cannabis aroma profiles. These aromas come from seeds producing high amounts of limonene, terpinolene, and linalool terpenes. With these scents in mind, your nose can pick out strains with these dominating terpenes, such as with our sweet-scented Candyfloss and citrusy Lemon Haze strains.

As you develop your nose for smelling cannabis, noting these broad scent categories will provide a good starting point for determining whether a strain belongs to the sativa or indica family.

How Cannabis Aroma Profiles Can Indicate Their Effects

Not only do terpenes create different aromas in cannabis, but they also are associated with their effects. An entourage effect is a term used to describe how terpenes found in your plant interact with your body when consumed to create their unique highs. Every strain is different and can also affect each person differently. Therefore, understanding a strain’s aroma can give you an idea of the effects you’ll experience once consumed.

We’ve covered how certain scents provide details of the family of strains your plant belongs to. Additionally, certain terpenes are known for producing specific kinds of effects. For example, a high presence of the pinene terpene can lead to an uplifting high while simultaneously improving memory and concentration. If you’re seeking these effects, you should be looking for a piney aroma—think pine trees!

Caryophyllene is a terpene great for consumers who don’t like to experience the couch-lock stoned feeling after a session. This terpene specifically counteracts some of the effects of THC. If you’re an infrequent consumer or want to mellow out your high, you can determine strains high in this terpene based on an herbal or peppery scent.

On the other end of the spectrum, those looking for more of a couchlock and laidback body high should look for strains with a more earthy scent. It’s a sure sign of high levels of myrcene. It’s one of the most common terpenes in almost all strains. However, the more dominant this scent is compared to other aromas, the more relaxed you can expect to feel with it.

Developing your nose for picking out specific cannabis aroma profiles is highly beneficial when examining your strain for its effects.

Using Aromas for Quality

The third pillar that weed aromas help determine is the freshness of your strain. From the growing process to examining your harvest, the potency of the scent is a good indication of the quality of your grow.

Your plant will start to produce the familiar weed smell within a few weeks of starting your grow. It’s a good sign to look for that your plant is developing correctly. It’s important to note that both male and female cannabis plants have a weed scent, so you won’t be able to tell the gender based on this trait. Also, as the smell becomes more potent from your plant, it’s a sign of the flowering stage.

Fresh buds will have their most potent smell once properly harvested, dried, and cured. Proper storage is recommended to preserve the aroma until you’re ready to consume them. Buds that begin to lose their smell potency are a sign that the quality is decreasing compared to when you first harvested them. This happens when the terpenes on your buds weaken—not only does the scent diminish, but also the effects caused by the terpenes.

If you find that your plant isn’t producing as potent of a smell, you can implement various techniques during and after a grow to boost the terpenes in your plant. This will improve the smell and taste of your buds.

Our premium seed genetics feature a wide variety of aromas. Experiment with different strains to train your nose to recognize different cannabis aroma profiles. A general rule of thumb is if it smells good to you, it will have favourable effects when consuming it.

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The Art of Cannabis Tasting: An Introduction to Aroma and Flavour Profiles

Being mindful of cannabis aroma and flavour is one of the best ways to get a complete experience from your plant during consumption. The complexity of the plant itself leads to its unique characteristics, displaying a range of scents and flavour profiles in every strain. There’s an art to training yourself to be more aware of these properties that starts with understanding what causes a strain’s aroma and flavour and knowing what to look for when consuming or tasting it.

Approaching cannabis with these tips will awaken your senses even more to the robust genetics growing from your seeds.

Understanding Cannabis Aroma and Flavour

Two words every grower should know and understand are terpenes and cannabinoids. Both are part of all cannabis plants’ chemical structure, but are responsible for different characteristics.

Terpenes are the most sensory-perceptive feature of the two, which determines a plant’s aroma and flavour. On the other hand, cannabinoids impact the actual effects when consuming cannabis. THC and CBD fall under the cannabinoid umbrella, delivering uplifting, sedated, or counteractive effects to your high.

Terpenes and cannabinoids are both found in the trichomes of your plant, or the white crystals coating your buds. The more trichomes visible on your plant, the stronger the effects these chemical compounds will have.

When studying the art of cannabis smell and taste we’ll spotlight terpenes. Terpenes are features of all plants, fruits, flowers, and even some animals. More than 20,000 exist, but only a fraction of 200+ are found in cannabis strains. This common characteristic that cannabis has with the rest of the plant world is why you’ll discover similar scents and recognisable flavours when consuming it. The good news is that you can use your knowledge of terpenes to know what to look for when detecting what kind of smell and taste your plant has.

Cannabis Aroma and Flavour From Different Terpenes

Cannabis plants have a combination of terpenes that work together in each strain. This phenomenon is referred to as the entourage effect. It’s when the blend of terpenes combined with the different cannabinoids interact with your body to produce the high sensation. As you know, every high is different, thanks to the range of compound combinations in each strain. While it’s difficult to single out every individual terpene in your strain, understanding the most common terpenes will give a better idea of the smell and tastes associated with them. With the right smell techniques, you’ll know what’s present in your strain.

These are the most common terpenes:

Aroma is one of the primary ways to tell which is dominant in your strain. Once you know how a strain smells, you can predict its taste. Each has distinctive features that make them instantly recognisable to the trained nose.

For example, growing strains like the Kosher Tangie Kush and Lemon Haze will give off heavy citrusy and fruity aromas. It’s evidence that both strains contain concentrations of limonene. You can expect a similar flavour of citrus and fruit when consuming them. Seeds containing pinene genetics will have a strong pine needle aroma when they begin flowering. Strains like the Dutch Duchess and Royal Choco are good examples and will leave a lasting taste similar to hops and basil when consumed that confirms the terpene presence.

Myrcene is one of the most common terpenes that gives most cannabis strains some level of an earthy scent. The more dominant this smell from your plant, the more indica-related body highs you can expect. It’s a terpene instrumental in the entourage effect that helps more of the cannabinoids of the plant interact with your body for a deeper, richer high. It’s a terpene also found in mangoes, which is why many people report feeling elevated highs after consuming cannabis while eating the fruit.

Detecting Cannabis Aroma and Flavour

Now that you know common scents and flavours to look for in your cannabis plant, it’s time to develop your sense of smell and taste to detect them. It takes some practice to recognise their presence, but with practice, you can get past the obvious skunky scents to reveal the true bouquet of aromas.

Detecting aroma can be done while growing your plant or when examining your buds after harvest. Scents are most potent during the flowering stage, when you should get hints of aromas associated with your strain. It’s when knowing your strain genetics is beneficial. If you know you’re growing a strain with high levels of limonene, you should be looking for that citrusy scent compared to a floral lavender-related scent typical in strains with high linalool genetics.

Good ventilation helps isolate the scent of your plant and avoid interfering scents from other plants.

Detecting flavour is only done during the consumption stage. Aroma plays a major role in how we taste, and knowing the scent first will help give more flavour sensation when consuming. The way you consume is critical for maximising the flavours. Be sure to check our cannabis tasting beginners guide (https://www.amsterdamgenetics.com/cannabis-tasting-101-a-guide-for-beginners/) to learn steps for extracting the full flavour profile of your strain.

Starting your grow with premium cannabis seeds helps ensure strong genetics in your plant. With proper grow techniques, you’ll achieve a successful harvest and enjoy the full benefits of your cannabis aroma and flavour profile.

Browse Our Best-Selling Strains

Tasting Like an Expert: Tips for Appreciating Cannabis

Let’s be honest—growers have a unique way of appreciating cannabis compared to those who only consume it. There’s something about seeing your seed develop into buds and the intricate process that makes us have an intimate attachment to them before we even consume our harvest.

While growing is the first stage, consumption is always the tale-tell sign of whether it was worth the wait. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or a beginner nearing the end of your first grow, this blog will help you enjoy your yield even more.

How Cannabis Gets Its Taste and Smell

From the chemical composition to the perceived effects on our senses, all cannabis strains are different. Many of these differences are attributed to the various compounds within each plant. Terpenes are one of the most popularly studied compounds responsible for giving each a unique taste and smell. With approximately 200 different terpenes found across all cannabis plants, various combinations of them can lead to vastly different results in how they smell, taste, and affect our bodies when consumed.

Many consumers strictly focus on how much THC is in a particular strain. However, terpenes and other compounds in each plant interact with each other and compounds in our bodies in a phenomenon called the entourage effect that can vary for each person. Selecting the perfect terpene profile when choosing a strain to grow can significantly increase the effects of it once consumed.

Tips for Appreciating Cannabis

Browse any of our cannabis seeds online, and you’ll get a comprehensive breakdown of the taste and aroma to expect from each strain. Successful home grows will yield similar results. However, it’s up to you to actually experience these diverse strain characteristics. The trick is developing your sense of smell and taste to maximize appreciating cannabis strains as they are truly meant to be enjoyed.

Here are a few tips on getting the most out of your grow:

Tip 1: Know what aromas and tastes to look for

Weed connoisseurs can take a blindfold and give an accurate description of different cannabis strains put before them. Before calling yourself an expert, you should know what to look for in your strain and train yourself to recognize those exact flavour profiles and scent notes.

Knowing the most popular terpenes in cannabis is an excellent place to start for recognizing the taste and smell. For example, Myrcene is one of the leading terpenes found in all strains, such as out FatKid’s Cake and AK-OG Kush. You can recognize it by the earthy or herbal scent in your buds and a spicy flavour when consumed. Limonene is another common terpene popular in strains like Pineapple Kush and Lemon Haze. As the name suggests, it delivers a taste and scent likened to citrus and fruit. Learn about the most common terpenes here.

Tip 2: Using the Right Tools to Maximize Taste

The worst thing you can do as a grower is not using the right tools to taste the delicious strains you worked so hard for. Don’t let your harvest go to waste by consuming it effectively to get the full flavour profile with every hit.

The cleaner your consumption method, the more flavour you’ll experience. Some of the best tools for consuming cannabis for taste are glass pieces and vaporizers. These minimize combustion, leaving more of the pure terpenes to reach your body once inhaled. Things to keep in mind for these tools are maintaining clean pieces to avoid cross-contamination of strains and monitoring the heat levels of your vaporizer to prevent overheating the terpenes.

Rolling papers are one of the most common ways to consume cannabis. To maximize flavour with these, use flavourless papers and don’t mix with tobacco.

Consuming cannabis via edibles will often mask the pure natural flavour of a strain due to other ingredients used when baking. However, you can utilize different weed flavours and their terpenes to enhance your edibles—think of it as an additional seasoning! For example, using the Choco Kush Autoflower strain in brownies will pair well due to the strain’s chocolate flavour profile.

Tip 3: Practice Mindful Consumption to Engage All Your Senses

The art of consuming cannabis like an expert means using all of your senses during the consumption process. This slow, mindful way of consuming leads to appreciating cannabis for more than just how high it gets you, but also the flavour, smell, look, and feel. Even your sense of hearing can be effective since the sound of snapping stems can mean overly dry buds, which reduces the flavour.

Read here for our guide to tasting cannabis like a connoisseur.

Tip 4: Create a Suitable Tasting Environment

Did you know where you consume cannabis can affect how you taste it? Since tasting weed engages all of your senses, the best environments are those that cater to each of them. For example, well-ventilated rooms can help you focus on the smell of your cannabis without other scent interference. Also, rooms with bright lights will help with examining your strain for trichomes and other features that enhance their effect.

If you find your homegrow not meeting your expectations for the taste once harvested, there are several techniques you can implement at different stages that can help improve it for the next grow. These can range anywhere from adjusting your grow environment, modifying your dry and cure process, and more.

As always, starting with the best cannabis seeds is essential to achieving the flavourful buds you desire. We offer top-quality seeds that you can order online and provide details of each strain before you buy to know precisely what to expect from your grow. Browse our seeds today to see what cannabis flavour you’ll be excited to try next.

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From Terpenes to Tones: Discovering Cannabis Aromas

The pungent aroma coming from your cannabis plants is a sign that your grow is progressing successfully. But have you ever wondered how cannabis gets its distinctive smell? The dominant aroma that comes to mind when most think about weed is a pungent skunk odour. However, with a trained nose and awareness of the myriad aromas that cannabis can produce, you’ll discover the many rich scents coming from your plant.

Discovering cannabis aroma starts with the basics of what gives each strain its unique scents. Then, we’ll explore how different scents can affect your overall experience when consuming, from the taste to the kind of high it delivers.

Introduction to Terpenes

Aroma is a byproduct of chemical compounds in cannabis known as terpenes (or terps for short). These same properties giving weed its earthy or sweet aromas also contribute to its effects of euphoria or couch lock. Understanding terpenes, the effects they yield, and the aroma produced by them will help identify the unique characteristics that define each strain.

Terpenes exist in all plants and even some animals. They’re part of a plant’s chemical makeup that aids with attracting bugs, repelling bacteria and predators, and other uses. For cannabis plants, they’re more commonly known for creating different smells and, as a result, effects once consumed. There are hundreds of terpenes discovered in cannabis plants; however, we only need to examine a handful of the most common terps to help understand them better:

Myrcene – although this terpene is found in most strains, the main difference is how dominant its presence is compared to other terps. It’s responsible for heavy, earthy notes, similar to what you’ll smell in cloves, thyme, and even beer.

Strains with high concentrations of myrcene typically fall in the indica category with effects of relaxing and sedated effects. Our Green Magic strain is a good example, which has an herbal taste and intense body high.

Limone – one of the most common terpenes in sativa strains that has fresh lemon and citrusy notes. Strains like our Grapefruit Superstar are sativa-dominant with a heavy citrus fragrance and are known for delivering a euphoric high.

Pinene – if the scent of your grow reminds you of walking through a forest, it may be high levels of pinene terps. This terp also has a beta-pinene version, similar in smell and taste to hops and basil.

Strains like Critical Mass Regular make for excellent outdoor grows thanks to the scent blending in with nature. As with other heavy earthy-type scents, it’s an indica-dominant that helps with relaxation and a pleasant body buzz.

Linalool – the smell of lavender can also be found in cannabis thanks to this terpene. Plants with a flowery bouquet of aromas will likely have high percentages of linalool, such as our Amnesia Haze.

Caryophyllene – growers looking to produce strains with a dominating peppery and herbal scent should find plants with high levels of caryophyllene. When consumed, it gives a spice herb flavour, like you’d experience eating pepper and oregano.

AK-OG Kush is a prime example, with a spicy and earthy taste while delivering a heavy indica body effect.

You can learn more about the most popular terps on our terpene profile guide.

Floral vs. Fruity vs. Earthy

With some practice, you’ll soon be able to determine different terpenes in each strain by its scent alone. However, while you’re still developing your sense of smell for cannabis, A great way to categorize aromas is with three categories: floral, fruity, and earthy. Strains with these fragrances tend to have similar terpenes and effects.

Floral
Cannabis plants with fresh floral fragrance tones tend to contain a high percentage of linalool or terpinolene terpenes. These terps have a phenomenon of enhancing other cannabis effects. Therefore, the relaxing and pleasant head buzz effects of consuming our Blue Amnesia Haze will have its effects heightened by the linalool present in it. And the cheerful feeling after consuming the Strawberry Glue strain will also be escalated thanks to its terpinolene.

Fruity
Fruity scents are commonly found in sativa strains. Smelling this aroma signals a heavy presence of myrcene or limonene. These have great tastes and Pineapple Kush, Tangerine G13, and Banana Slush are just a few of our best cannabis fruit strains.

Earthy
Any strain delivering earthy tones that make you feel like you’re in nature will have concentrations of pinene or humulene. The heavier this aroma, the more Indica-dominant it will be. Popular strains like Chocolato and Dutch Duchess have strong natural scents, but combining them with other terpenes yield unique flavours like chocolate.

Influence of Growing Conditions on Cannabis Aroma

Growers can look forward to the undeniable weed smell during the budding stage, although it can arrive as soon as a few weeks before your plant begins to flower. It’s the first time you’ll be able to start examining your plant for different terpenes present based on the smell they give off.

How and where you grow your plant can significantly impact the smell. Similar to improving the taste, certain conditions can help bring out the full genetics of your seeds for maximum aroma and flavour. For example, implementing a low stress training technique during the flowering stage will help boost the amount of terpenes on your buds. Also, proper curing methods will enhance terpenes for a stronger aroma (and effects).

While you can’t smell a cannabis seed to determine the aroma once it begins producing buds, our genetic details and flavour/aroma provide excellent information on what to expect from each strain. Browse out premium cannabis seeds to find your perfect strain.

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Cannabis Tasting 101: A Guide for Beginners

You’ve been anticipating your grow for months, and now it’s time to finally consume your home-grown cannabis. We’ve come a long way from simply consuming cannabis for the high. True connoisseurs treat it like whiskey and wine tasting—incorporating all their senses to appreciate the full tasting experience. From the appearance to the scent to the final taste, there’s a true art to cannabis tasting.

You’ll be amazed at the different flavour profiles present across the range of strains available at Amsterdam Genetics. This guide will help you get the most out of your cannabis consumption experience—exploring how strains achieve their unique flavours, choosing which strain to grow based on the flavour it will produce, and the best ways to consume it to taste them.

Understanding Cannabis Strains

Do you prefer uplifting sativa strains or sway more towards the relaxing indica strains? While these two pillars divide the weed community based on the high they give, they also vary significantly in their flavours when consumed. This is caused by the particular chemical compounds that categorize them as sativa or indica.

Cannabis tasting starts with the scientific makeup of each strain. You’re probably already familiar with the counter effects of THC and CBD on the type of high a strain produces. However, its flavour (and aroma) are attributed to the combination of terpenes and flavonoids found in them.

Terpenes and Flavor Profiles

All plants, from trees and flowers to vegetables and cannabis, have terpenes. Of the 30,000 different compounds, cannabis plants have approximately 100-200 found in their chemical makeup—some more dominant than others, depending on whether it’s an indica or sativa strain.

For example, our popular indica strains like Fatkid’s Cake and Royal Choco have a terpene called Myrcene, which creates their earthy/herbal scent and flavour. Also, the woody profiles of the AK-OG Kush thanks to the presence of the Caryophyllene terpene.

Sativa strains have a dominant presence of popular terpenes like Limonene. It produces the citrus flavour in strains like Super Silver Haze and Grapefruit Superstar, and Lemon Ice.

Cannabis plants contain these compounds to aid with attracting certain insects for reproduction while repelling others, fighting against bacteria, protecting against harmful UV rays, and more. However, when they interact with the human body, we get something known as the entourage effect that creates unique flavours that we can enjoy while consuming them.

The Art of Cannabis Tasting

Now that you know ‘why’ and ‘how’ cannabis plants get their flavour, it’s time to learn the art of cannabis tasting. We provide a flavour profile for each of our cannabis seeds to select which to grow based on your preference. However, actually tasting these myriad flavours depend on how you consume them. Like ageing fine wine, there’s a lot that happens to your plants during those months of the growing process to get them ready to deliver their awesome taste once consumed.

Start with your nose! Not only is the scent an indication that your grow is almost ready for harvest, but it’s also a hint at the flavour your buds will have when you’re ready to consume them. Our sense of taste directly correlates with smell, which is why the way a plant smells is a good indication of how it will taste when consumed. Does it smell citrusy? Piney? Earthy?

Some experts suggest involving your sense of touch to enhance the smell. Give the bud a slight squeeze to pump out a bit more of the rich aroma. Be delicate and leave in a bag if possible to avoid rubbing off the delicious flavours onto your hands.

The initial scent of the pure flower buds is typically our first sensory interaction with cannabis before consuming it for taste.

Next, take a moment to examine your buds in detail. The way it looks once harvested also hints at the flavours you’ll experience because you can easily differentiate these buds from other strains. Strains with a chemical compound called Anthocyanins create those unique purple or blue hues. Our strains, like the Blue Amnesia Haze and Blue Amnesia Autoflower, are excellent examples that have a sweet, berry-like taste. With the right grow techniques, you can even achieve a pinkish hue, like in our Candyfloss, which tastes as sweet as it sounds.

Finally, it’s time for the moment you’ve been highly anticipating—consuming for taste!

Consuming pure cannabis, instead of mixing it with tobacco, is the best way to get the full flavour effect from your plant. Using glass is also an effective way to maximize the amount of taste you’ll get with each hit. If you’re using rolling paper, give it a ‘dry hit’ and chew on the flavour a moment before lighting it.

You can use the same ‘chewing’ motion after exhaling to see how close your other senses were to guessing the exact flavours you experience.

Note that cannabis interacts with our bodies differently, and perceived flavours can vary as much as their effects.

Choosing Seeds Based on Flavour Preference

The beauty of cannabis is that each strain has its own unique flavour profile. You’ll be surprised at the flavours you’ll experience once you master the art of cannabis tasting. Chocolate lovers have a variety of seeds to choose from to obtain the taste, like when consuming our Milkshake Kush Autoflower and White Choco Autoflower. Our Banana Slush and Tangerine G13 are great for a fruity boutique of flavours. Or for a punchier fuel flavour, we recommend the Dynamighty Autoflower or Spicebomb.

The art of cannabis tasting is a delicate process that can enhance your overall consumption experience. Just like wine, true cannabis connoisseurs take time to enjoy the full sensory effect of their weed—it’s much more than just searching for the highest THC percentage to get high. Browse our different cannabis seeds to see which flavour you’d like to experience next!

What Effect Does Climate Have On My Outdoor Cannabis Grow?

Many people are concerned about climate change, and if you’re growing cannabis outdoors, you may wonder how the climate affects your plants. Cannabis loves warmth, but global temperatures are shifting, affecting where cannabis can thrive. In this blog, we explore the changing climate and how you, as a grower, can adapt.

Choosing the Right Strain for Your Climate

You’ve probably heard and noticed that the climate is changing. Some areas have become much hotter, while others have seen increased rainfall. If you grow cannabis outdoors, it’s crucial to adapt to these climate changes.

First, select strains that suit the climate of your region. Consider the amount of sunlight your plants will receive. You can do this by tracking it yourself or by doing some internet research. Once you understand how much sunlight your plants will get during the growing season, you can select the most suitable strains.

If you live in Northern Europe, look for strains that can endure cooler climates and harsher conditions. They should also have a shorter flowering time. Consider autoflowering strains or varieties specifically developed for colder climates (mainly Indica-dominant strains).

In Southern Europe, you have a lot of choices due to long sunny days. You can take advantage of a long growing season from March to November. Many strains are suitable, especially Sativa-dominant ones.

For those living along the Mediterranean coast, go for strains resistant to mold. High humidity can lead to mold growth here. Sativa strains, which form airy buds, are better at handling moisture.

Climate Change and Cannabis Production

When cultivating cannabis outdoors, you must adapt to a changing climate. The growing cycle could become shorter, necessitating timely harvests before unexpected frost or prolonged rain sets in. However, the shifting weather also means that some regions have become warmer than they were a few years ago, thus becoming suitable for cannabis cultivation.

In the Netherlands, autumn and winter have become warmer; snowfall is rare, and spring can bring a lot of rain. The weather has become increasingly unpredictable. We have no choice but to try to adapt, choosing strains that are suitable for current climatic conditions. Cannabis is a robust plant, but even it can be overwhelmed by heavy rain, wind, or scorching temperatures.

Adapting Your Growing Techniques to Changing Climates

Changing weather patterns compel us to modify our cultivation techniques. Fortunately, there are ways to protect your plants, ensuring good yields despite climatic changes. Unstable weather can shorten the growing and flowering seasons, making it vital to opt for autoflowers or strains with shorter flowering periods. This allows for earlier harvesting before you face rain or cold.

Due to climate change, pests and diseases are spreading. You can counter this by using companion planting, which attracts beneficial insects that can combat pests. You can also use eco-friendly pesticides.

What immediate actions can you take for extreme weather? Ensure you provide enough shade during hot summers. Keep your plants well-watered to prevent drying out.

If it rains extensively, you can shake the buds dry every day. Good ventilation is essential, as heavy rain can result in bud rot. Remove any affected buds as quickly as possible.

Wind can also damage your plants. Shield them by placing them between tall bushes or by installing a windscreen.

Unpredictable weather can be challenging, but climate change is still ongoing. It’s uncertain what weather conditions we’ll face in the future, but that doesn’t mean we should give up. We’ve dealt with changing weather before.

Cannabis development continues to evolve, geared toward adapting to the changing climate.

The Influence of Climate on THC and CBD Levels

The changing climate can also have benefits for outdoor cannabis cultivation. Higher temperatures and increased CO2 levels lead to more trichome production. These glands produce resin, which helps protect the plant against insects, fungi, and UV radiation.

When faced with environmental threats, the plant produces more trichomes, which leads to higher resin production, meaning higher cannabinoid concentrations, primarily THC.

Studies have also shown that exposure to more sunlight and some drought can lead to a 50% increase in THC and a 67% increase in CBD. Even the size of the buds increased. Therefore, climate change could have a positive impact on the medicinal properties of cannabis.

So, climate change will force plants, animals, and humans to adapt. You can surely do this too, especially with the tips provided in this blog.

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Growing Cannabis Outdoors: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re considering growing cannabis outdoors, you might think it’s quite challenging and that you need to have a green thumb. However, virtually anyone can start cultivating weed outside. Cannabis is a sturdy plant that requires minimal care. In fact, you can follow a simple step-by-step plan, letting the cannabis plants do the heavy lifting and reward you with a generous harvest.

Introduction to Outdoor Cannabis Growing

Perhaps you’ve contemplated growing cannabis outdoors and would like to give it a try. Many believe it requires extensive knowledge about plants and demands a lot of time and effort. But the truth is, you can make outdoor cannabis growing as simple or as complex as you wish.

For beginners, it’s advisable to keep things straightforward. Weed is a resilient plant. All it needs are water, sunlight, and nutritious soil. It’s not hard to provide these essentials. The Dutch climate often supplies everything cannabis requires, whether you grow it on a balcony or in a garden.

Typically, there’s no need for additional nutrients, especially for novice growers. Opt for rich potting soil or garden soil, ensuring the plants receive all the necessary nutrients. Initially, pruning or training isn’t essential, but if desired, you can gently remove old leaves or trim the plants, ensuring they get adequate light and fresh air.

Growing cannabis outdoors can sometimes seem challenging because there’s a lot to monitor. Maintaining a cultivation diary can provide insights into the entire process. Should something go awry, you can review your notes and make improvements next time.

Want more insights on outdoor cannabis growing? Read on for a comprehensive list of helpful tips to get started.

Basic Principles of Outdoor Cultivation for the Upcoming Season

If you’re planning to cultivate cannabis outside, you have some crucial decisions ahead. As previously mentioned, weed isn’t demanding. However, deciding on the best location for your plants and choosing between planting in the ground or pots is essential.

If you have a garden, you can sow your seeds directly into the ground or use pots. Both methods have pros and cons. Direct sowing benefits from a rich soil ecosystem and offers roots ample room to spread. However, once planted, they’re immobile.

Using pots offers flexibility, enabling relocation if needed (to shelter from wind or maximize sunlight). You’ll also have greater control over growth. Consider the space available in your garden or balcony, and decide if you value the mobility of pots or if your garden is perfect for direct sowing.

When you’ve decided, follow some basic steps to determine the best planting spot. Ideal locations for cannabis plants have ample sunlight, easy water access, and fertile soil. If you plant in your garden, choose a sunny spot. Make sure it’s easily accessible for watering, and assess the soil quality. If the soil isn’t ideal, you can enrich it with extra garden soil or nutrients.

Once the seeds are in the soil, it’s exciting to watch for the first green shoots. Cannabis plants undergo various growth stages, each having specific needs.

The first stage is the seedling phase (lasting 2-3 weeks), followed by the vegetative phase where plants grow vigorously. Lastly, there’s the flowering phase, which lasts 6-8 weeks, during which the buds form and can eventually be harvested. Proper harvesting timing is crucial. Monitor the trichomes and the color of the pistils.

Maintaining a Successful Growing Cannabis Outdoor

Before it’s time to harvest, naturally, you’ll want to take good care of your plants. When growing cannabis outdoors in Dutch conditions, rainfall might provide ample water. However, this isn’t always the case: it’s essential to administer the ideal amount of water, which can vary depending on the growth phase.

Seedlings require less water than plants in the growth phase, and during the flowering stage, they need the most. Both under-watering and over-watering can harm your plants. With a few helpful pointers, you’ll know what to watch out for when watering. For instance, only water when the top layer of soil is dry, and observe your plants for signs of thirst or excess water (like yellow or drooping leaves).

For beginners aiming to get a bit more from their outdoor grow, implementing pruning and training techniques can be beneficial. Such methods can aid cannabis plants in becoming larger, stronger, and yield a higher harvest.

Various methods are available. Some are tailored for experienced growers, so you might want to steer clear of those initially. You can start with basic pruning: removing wilted leaves so that more energy goes to healthy ones.

Low Stress Training involves directing growth by bending branches. Topping, another technique, entails cutting off the main stem. This encourages side branches to grow more vigorously. All pruning techniques aim to offer better control over the canopy, growth, and the distribution of light, air, and nutrients.

It’s also crucial, for successful growing cannabis outside, to keep a close eye on your plants. While cannabis is resilient, neglect can lead to issues, and you might realize too late that something’s amiss.

Regularly inspecting your garden or balcony helps in early detection and management of problems like diseases or pests. Examine the buds and leaves for signs of fungi, insects (such as mites or spider mites), or nutrient deficiencies.

If you spot an issue, intervention is key. Insects, for instance, can be combated with natural predators or organic pesticides. Plants affected by fungus should be pruned and isolated from healthy ones.

The Impact of Weather on Your Cannabis Grow

Weather is notorious for its unpredictability. Even though cannabis is quite resilient, it’s important to protect your plants against excessive heat or cold.

In high temperatures, cannabis can suffer from heat stress. Leaves might curl up, and buds might not be as dense. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to support your plants during hot spells. Water them more frequently and occasionally mist the leaves for extra cooling. Guard the roots (especially for potted plants) and provide additional shade with a shade cloth.

If you frequently experience hot summers, it could be wise to base your choice of seeds on that fact. Choose seeds that are resilient to high temperatures; often, seeds from the Haze family are suitable.

Conversely, you might encounter cold weather during summer. When temperatures drop, your plants’ growth may be stunted. They might not uptake nutrients efficiently, which can adversely affect bud formation.

Try to shield your plants from drastic temperature changes. If it suddenly turns cold, using heat mats can keep the roots warm. Mulch can also serve as protection against the cold. Keep seedlings indoors if it’s too chilly for them. If your plants are potted, move them to a sunny spot or bring them indoors.

Of course, this isn’t an option for plants in the ground. If cold springs or summers are frequent where you live, considering greenhouse cultivation might be a good choice. While it’s a substantial investment, a greenhouse allows you to cultivate cannabis outdoors all year round.

Weather significantly influences outdoor cannabis cultivation. If you’re keen on learning how to grow cannabis outdoors, consider these 10 tips:

Choose the right cannabis strain.
Plan your growing season carefully.
Pay attention to soil quality.
Water and feed on time.
Guard plants from wind and sun.
Inspect plants for pests and diseases.
Employ pruning and training techniques.
Have an action plan for sudden weather shifts.
Harvest at the right time.
Develop a care schedule.

We’re here for you this coming season

If you’re contemplating growing cannabis outdoors, it all begins with the seeds. You’ll want high-quality seeds, of course. Amsterdam Genetics is renowned for its continuous development and for providing customers with reliable quality seeds. For years, the company has been pioneering autoflowering, feminized, and medicinal cannabis seeds.

They always strive to stay attuned to societal needs, including the impacts of climate change. Whether you’re in search of high-CBD seeds or seeds resistant to heat or cold, Amsterdam Genetics has you covered. Their expert, enthusiastic team consists of passionate cannabis aficionados.

When selecting the best seeds, it’s recommended to consider the changing climate. Given the cooler tendencies in the Netherlands, opting for an Indica strain might be best. These strains originate from mountainous regions and are better equipped to handle cold than Sativas. They also flower faster, allowing you to harvest before autumn’s chill sets in.

But climate change also makes weather more unpredictable. Autoflowering varieties are another excellent choice: they have a much shorter growth and flowering phase and bloom regardless of light patterns, enabling earlier yearly harvests.

Climate change necessitates proactive adaptation. Protect your plants from extreme weather, perhaps using shade cloths, strategically positioning pots, employing wind barriers, watering strategies, or practicing companion planting.

Fortunately, there are many ways to adapt and ensure a bountiful harvest despite the unpredictable weather. However, if you encounter issues or have queries about growing cannabis outdoor, you can always reach out to us. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience and are eager to assist. Let us know if you need guidance. You can always contact us.

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10 Tips to Consider When Growing Weed Outdoors

Do you already consider these 10 tips when growing weed outdoors? Anyone can grow weed outdoors. Our climate is well suited for it, and outdoor growing requires only a small financial investment. Whether you’re an experienced grower or just starting, these tips will always get you off to a good start.

1. The right cannabis strain

Your first step in outdoor growing is choosing the best cannabis strain. Photosensitive strains are light-dependent and often need a longer time before they start flowering (five to six months), but they do have high yields.

Autoflowering plants bloom faster, so you can harvest before it gets cold. These plants also stay a bit smaller, which might be more convenient in a garden.

In our cooler climate, choosing an Indica strain is the best. They bloom faster and can withstand colder weather better than Sativa strains.

2. Sowing: timing and location

One of the tips for growing weed outdoors is to start sowing at the end of April or beginning of May. Then there’s no more chance of frost, and you can sow your seeds directly into the ground or in a pot.

Choose a spot where the plants can fully enjoy the sun but are protected from strong winds. The advantage of pots is that you can move your precious plants if the weather becomes too hot or windy.

3. Consider soil quality

Soil quality plays a significant role in growing cannabis. Here you can pay attention to the pH of the soil. The pH of the soil indicates how acidic the soil is, and this value influences how well your plants can absorb nutrients.

The ideal pH value for weed plants is between 6.0 and 6.8. You can measure this value with tests you can buy in a garden center or with a pH meter. Drainage is also important as it determines to what extent the soil quickly dries out or becomes waterlogged.

The soil can be a mix of, for example, clay and sand. It is important to ensure an optimal texture with the right combination of soil types.

4. Water and nutrients

Plants need water and nutrients to thrive properly. But their need for water and food changes, depending on what growth stage they are in. Seedlings and young plants need less water than mature plants. The weather, of course, also plays a significant role. If the sun is shining brightly and it’s not raining much, you will need to give more water.

Your plants can also benefit from nutrition. Think about minerals like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. These support good growth and are building blocks for your weed plants. Note that here too, the need for nutrients changes depending on the growth phase.

5. Protect your plants from cold and heat

Cannabis is a robust plant, but your weed can still get damaged by extreme weather. Too much heat can curl leaves and deform buds. If it’s too cold, your plants can absorb nutrients less well.

So, it’s a good idea to protect your weed. If it’s very hot, use a shade cloth against the bright sunlight. You can also provide some extra cooling by spraying plants with water.

During cold weather, protect your plants by temporarily placing them in a greenhouse or indoors. Another option is to provide more insulation. This can be done with a layer of mulch on the ground or by using heat mats.

6. Prevent diseases and pests

One of the other useful tips for growing weed outdoors is to prevent pests and diseases. You do this mainly by regularly checking your weed plants for the first signs of disease. Pay attention to common molds and insects, such as powdery mildew, spider mites, and aphids.

The best way to protect your plants is to fight these with environmentally friendly methods. In many cases, you can use the natural enemies of insects. There are also natural-based pesticides, such as neem oil, garlic, and diatomaceous earth.

7. Apply training techniques

Training techniques are also important for promoting the growth and flowering of your weed plants. If you don’t pay attention to this, your plants might invest more energy in forming a dense canopy of leaves than in the buds.

With training techniques, you can steer the growth so that light, air, and nutrients are used as efficiently as possible. For instance, you can use fimming, topping, Low Stress Training, and Screen of Green. Some of these techniques are easy to apply; others require more practice.

8. Make use of the benefits of pruning

Our eighth tip for growing weed outdoors is to prune regularly. Not only can this help to prevent your plants from getting too big, pruning is also the perfect way to stimulate your plant to put energy into the buds. So, pruning can lead to a bigger harvest.

When pruning, you make a deliberate choice to remove leaves at certain spots. As a beginner, for example, you only remove already wilted and yellow leaves. If you have more experience, you can also remove fan leaves. This ensures that the plant invests more energy in the buds and that more light and air can reach other parts of the plant.

9. The best time to harvest

The timing of harvest is very important if you want to enjoy a good harvest. If you do it too early, the buds do not yet contain enough active substances. If you do it too late, THC is converted into CBN, a substance that won’t cause a high.

You can determine the right moment by closely looking at the buds, especially the trichomes. The pistils can also be a good indicator.

10. Be flexible and enjoy the journey

It’s vital to remember that this is all about you. Your involvement and the effort you put into growing cannabis are driven by your own passion for this plant. This is a personal journey, wherein you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and experience the fruits of your labor.

Fortunately, growing your plant in pots provides a wonderful solution. When you plant a cannabis plant in a pot, you gain a degree of control and flexibility. You can easily move the pot to different locations depending on the conditions and needs of the plant, without inconveniencing others.

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